Six people lost their lives in a traffic accident on the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway near Kallar Kahar on Monday.
According to reports, the accident occurred due to a brake failure of a gas container, which subsequently went out of control and collided with several other vehicles on the Salt Range stretch of the motorway.
Upon receiving information about the accident, rescue teams arrived at the scene and transferred the bodies to a nearby hospital.
The accident spot, known for its dangerous curves and steep slopes, has been the site of numerous fatal accidents in the past.
This tragic event adds to a series of deadly accidents that have occurred in the same area. Last year in June, a bus accident near Kallar Kahar claimed the lives of at least 10 people and injured 25 others.
Similarly, in February 2023, a bus carrying passengers returning from a wedding ceremony overturned due to a tire burst, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals, including women and children.
A police official said that the Salt Range section of the motorway is particularly perilous, with many accidents attributed to the challenging curves and slopes.
He emphasized the need for caution when driving through this mountainous region.
It is noteworthy that on September 26, 2011, a tragic school bus accident on this very stretch resulted in the deaths of 33 students. Despite the high incidence of accidents, adequate medical facilities in the area remain lacking.
Although a trauma center was constructed at Kallar Kahar at a cost of Rs 26.7 crore, it has not been made operational due to the inability of the Punjab government to recruit doctors. The facility was later converted into a tehsil headquarters hospital.
